Cutting mechanism.



No. 780,144. PATENTED JAN.1'7,1905. J. R. VAN WINKLE.

(HITTING MECHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED APR-7.1904.

L3 HUM/Hut J. R WWW/6 Qwm fl M/ W no. 780,144r.

Patented January 17, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. VAN VVINKLE, OF SUMPTER, OREGON.

CUTTlNG MECHANISM" SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.780,144, dated January 1'7, 1905.

Application filed April 7, 1904. Serial No. 202,114.

To all w/com it 71200; concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN R. VAN WINKLn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sumpter, in the county of Baker and State of Orcgon, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Cutting Mechanism; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in cutting mechanisms, and moreparticularly to devices of this character by means of which sewed seamson fabric may be quickly and easily ripped without danger of cutting orinjuring the fabric.

The object of my invention is to provide a cutting or ripping mechanismof this character which will be simple in construction, durable in use,very efficient in operation, and comparatively inexpensive to produce.

7 With this and other objects in view the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

, In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a deviceembodying my invention, the same being in the form of a pair of shearsor scissors. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isan inner face view of one of the cutters. Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofanother embodiment of my invention, the same being in the form of anattachment for a sewingmachine.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings,the numerals 1 and 2 denote two pivotally-connected members or leverswhich have at their pivoted ends coacting cutters 3 and at theiropposite or free ends thumb and finger loops or eyes 4, similar to thehandles of a pair of shears or scissors. Said cutters 3 may be formedintegral with the circular pivoted ends 5 of said members; but they arepreferably made detachable, as illustrated. Each cutter is in the formof a circular disk, preferably of hardened steel, having a beveled edge6, which is notched or toothed, as shown at 7. In the center of each ofthe cutter-disks is an opening8, through which and through similaropenings 10, formed in the said ends 5, a screw, bolt, or rivet 11 ispassed to secure said cutter-disks between said ends and to pivotallyconnect the members or levers 1 and E2. Said cutter-disks, it Will beseen, are placed together with their beveled edges or faces outwardly,and in order to reduce friction between the inner faces of said disksand also to permit them to be more easily sharpened said innercontacting faces are formed with circular concentric depressions orrecesses 12, as shown. The outer faces of the cutter-disks bear againstthe inner recessed faces of the ends 5, and in order to connect saiddisks to said ends to prevent slipping and to permit them to be easilyattached and detached when the pivot 11 is removed I provide upon thesaid outer faces of the cutter-disks a small stud 13, which enters arecess 14:, formed in the inner face of the end 5, as clearly shown inFig. 3. If desired, the members or levers may be opened automatically bya spring, which may be of any suitable form and applied in any desiredmanner. In the drawings a bow spring 15 is shown attached to one andengaging the other of the members or levers in order to force themapart.

The operation of the device will be readily seen. When the free orhandle ends of the levers 1 and 2 are moved toward and from each other,the cutter-disks will be simultaneously oscillated, so that the teeth oneach of them will be moved across the spaces between the teeth on theother. l/Vhen the device thus operated is moved along a scam, the threador stitching of the seam will be engaged by said teeth and quickly cutor severed, as will be readily understood. Owing to the peculiarconstruction and operation of the cutter, the

danger of cutting or otherwise damaging the goods or fabric is almostentirely overcome and there is but little liability of the operatorcutting his fingers or hands.

In Fig. 5 lhave illustrated my invention embodied in an attachment for asewing-machine. This device is very similar to that just described, theonly differences being the omission of the spring 15 and the provisionof means for attaching the levers 1 and 2 to the presser-foot post andneedle-post of a sewingmachine. Either one of said levers is rigidlyattached to the post A of the presser-foot a by any suitable means,preferably by forming the end of said lever with a tubular head orbearing 16, through which said post projects, and by providing said head16 with a set-screw 17 to engage said post, and thus rigidly attach thelever. The other of said levers has a loose pivotal connection with thereciprocating needle-post B, which connection is preferably effected byforming said lever with a slotted or bifurcated end 18, which looselyengages a pivot-screw 19, carried by the reciprocating needle-post B, asshown. It will be seen that when the sewing-machine is operated thereciprocation of the needle-post B will oscillate the lever looselyconnected to it, and thus oscillate its cutter-disk upon the similarcutter-disk carried by the other lever.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A cutting or ripping mechanism comprising pivotally-connectedmembers, and coacting cutter-disks upon said members, said disks beingdisposed concentrically with the pivot of said levers whereby they willbe oscillated upon each other when said members are operated,substantially as described.

2. A cutting or ripping mechanism comprising pivotally-connectedmembers, and coacting beveled, toothed cutter-disks upon said members,said disks being disposed concentrically with the pivot of said leverswhereby they will be oscillated upon each other when said members areoperated, substantially as described.

3. A cutting or ripping mechanism comprising two members or levers, atoothed cutter-disk upon each of said levers, a pivot passedconcentrically through said disks and through said levers to pivotallyconnect the latter and to hold the former in contact with each other,and means for holding said levers apart, substantially as described.

4. A cutting or ripping mechanism comprising two levers, toothedcutter-disks detachably connected to the ends of said levers, and apivot passed through said levers and concentrically through said disksto pivotally connect said levers and to hold said disks in contact witheach other and between said levers, substantially as described.

5. A cutting or ripping mechanism comprising two levers, toothedcutter-disks detachably connected to the ends of said levers, a pivotpassed through said levers and concentrically through said disks topivotally connect said levers and to hold said disks in contact witheach other and between said levers, and a spring for forcing said leversapart, substantially as described.

6. A cutting or ripping mechanism comprising two levers havingpivot-openings adjacent to their ends and recesses adjacent to saidpivot-openings, cutter-disks having studs to enter said recesses anddetachably connect said disks to said levers, and a pivot passedconcentrically through said disks and through said pivot-openings insaid levers to pivotally connect said levers and to hold said disks incontact with each other and between said levers.

7. A cutting or ripping mechanism comprising two levers havingpivot-openings adjacent to their ends and recesses adjacent to saidpivot-openings, cutter-disks having studs to enter said recesses anddetachably connect said disks to said levers, a pivot passedconcentrically through said disks and through said pivot-openings insaid levers to pivotally connect said levers and to hold said disks incontact with each other and between said levers, and aspring for forcingsaid levers apart, substantially as described.

8. A cutting or ripping attachment for sewing-machines comprisingpivotally-con nected levers, cutter-disks upon said levers disposedconcentrically with their pivot, means for rigidly securing one of saidlevers to the presser-foot post of a sewing-machine, and means forloosely and pivotally connecting the other of said levers to thereciprocatory needle-post of said sewing-machine, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN R. VAN WINKLE. Witnesses:

S. S. START, H. B. WoLKINc.

